The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not clueless about what’s happening within the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
The assurance came from IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who appeared in Tuesday’s online version of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.
The 2002 Asian Games gold medalist in equestrian was scheduled to attend an IOC online meeting, also on Tuesday. She was to provide the IOC an update on the POC developments.
“We at the IOC are regularly in touch,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, a newly-elected member of the powerful IOC executive committee.
The POC was in the news recently because of a heated debate regarding proposed amendments to its constitution and by-laws.
But the motions to amend the constitution — particularly those concerning a proposed age limit of 70 years old on those seeking elective positions in the POC — was met by a strong opposition.
The other key amendments include disallowing persons from holding the position of president in more than one NSA (national sports association); and the withdrawal of recognition from NSAs no longer affiliated with their IFs (international federations).
After two meetings among members of the executive committee, nothing was finalized, and it’s all back to square one.
Cojuangco-Jaworski said the IOC has been pushing for amendments in the constitutions of the different NOC (National Olympic Committee).
“There are many developments in the Olympic movement and we want to keep up. The IOC wants the amendments to take effect before the different NOCs hold their elections,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski in the session presented by San Miguel Corp. Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and powered by Smart.
The POC, she added, is bound by its constitution to push through with its elections before the end of the year, even with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics delayed to July next year due to the deadly pandemic.
“That’s in our by-laws. In other countries, it’s only stated that they will have elections on the Olympic year so naturally, that’s 2020. But the Olympics was postponed,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski.
“But there are countries where the constitution says that whether or not the Olympics pushes through or not there will be elections and we are one of those countries. That is specified. Of course, the IOC expects that we adhere to our own constitution.”
